I have no fear whatever about her weathering
the gale, but I expect that for a bit we shall be more under water
than above it.
"I see Perry is getting the two anchors below; that will help to
ease her. At any rate she will be in good fighting trim. I think we
began none too soon. There is a thick mist over the sky, and it
looks as dark as pitch ahead."
"There is only one thing more, sir," and the captain shouted:
"All hands get the boats on deck, and see that they are lashed
firmly.
"Will you see to getting in the davits out of the sockets, Purvis,
and getting them below?
"I ought to have done that before," he went on, apologetically,
"but I did not think of it. However, with such a strong crew it
won't take five minutes, and we have got that and something to
spare, I think."
"You have got the bowsprit reefed, Hawkins?"
"Yes, sir; full reefed."
"There is only one thing more that I can suggest. I fancy that
these tornadoes begin with heavy lightning. Get those wire topmast
stays, and twist them tightly round the shrouds and lash them
there, leaving the ends to drop a fathom or two in the water. In
that way I don't think that we need be afraid of the lightning.
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